3:17 And so they…18:58 And it starts with…
Seeking knowledgeFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.

Islamic revival begins with knowledge and justice

Pillars · John Ederer

“It starts with everybody committing to reviving the knowledge of Islam and not wasting our time.”

The khateeb, at 18:58

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The khutbah argues that lasting Islamic revival depends on education, faith, patience, wisdom, justice, and principled leadership rather than military strength alone.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. Surveys Abbasid decline, Seljuk revival, integrated religious and worldly education, and eventual fragmentation.
  2. Traces Ottoman origins through Ertugrul and Osman I amid Mongol and Byzantine pressure.
  3. Identifies Osman’s leadership qualities: sincerity, courage, patience, coalition-building, wisdom, and impartial justice.
  4. Presents Osman’s final counsel on time, expertise, scholars, humility, purpose, and justice.
  5. Concludes that educational institutions and principled believers must prepare future leaders.
Try this week
Commit to reviving Islamic knowledge through disciplined study of religious and worldly sciences.
Use time wisely and avoid pursuits outside divine commandments.
Consult qualified scholars and relevant experts when facing difficult decisions.
Practice impartial justice beyond tribal, class, religious, or personal loyalties.
Build wisdom, cooperation, and principled service for future generations.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 28Used Pharaoh’s oppression of the Israelites to parallel Muslim weakness under the Mongols and explain revival from oppression.
Surah 3Used to emphasize patience, steadfastness, mutual support, resolve, and God-consciousness.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“And so they established a very strong sultane but it only lasted for a hundred years, the Seljuks.”
Pillars · University City, NC
Play from 3:17
“And it starts with everybody committing to reviving the knowledge of Islam and not wasting our time and being people of wisdom and being people of justice”
Pillars · University City, NC
Play from 18:58
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah begins by reminding us that life and guidance are gifts from Allah, and that history can teach us how communities rise and fall. It describes how the Seljuks and early Ottomans built strength through faith, education, patience, cooperation, wisdom, and justice rather than force alone. Osman I is presented as a servant-leader who used time carefully, consulted knowledgeable people, stayed close to scholars, and judged fairly across religious and tribal lines. The speaker asks us to revive Islamic knowledge, serve others with principle, and prepare our children and grandchildren to lead well. Our daily choices about study, decisions, cooperation, and fairness help build that future.

  1. What is one way you can use your time wisely this week?
  2. When is it difficult to be fair, and what could help you choose justice?
  3. What knowledge or skill would you like to build to help your community?
Where it was given

The masjid

Pillars Mosque3116 Johnston Oehler Rd, Charlotte, NC 28269Jumu'ah 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, and 2:10 PMKhateebJohn EdererMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at Pillars156 khutbahs
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